In Bangladesh, the hardest thing for many women to own is not a dream; it’s placing her name on a deed. Barir Naam Shahana begins there, with the stubborn courage it takes to write a woman’s name into a house, a life, a future. That stubbornness has carried writer-director Leesa Gazi from a 2011 novella to an Oscar journey she still calls “unexpected.” 

Bangladesh has joined the list of nations announcing their contenders for the 98th Academy Awards.  At a press conference at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka this morning, the Bangladesh Oscar Committee declared Leesa Gazi’s film “Barir Naam Shahana” (A House Named Shahana) as the country’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category.  

Five Bangladeshi films have been submitted for consideration in the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards. The Bangladesh Oscar Committee will select one title to represent the country.

The Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies (BFFS) has announced the official call for submissions of eligible Bangladeshi films for the International Feature Film category of the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars), organised by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), USA.